Fort Lauderdale, FL Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Under ULDR Sec. 47-19.7, a home occupation is 'an occupation which is conducted in a residential dwelling, which is subordinate to the use of the dwelling as a residence,' and 'may be permitted as an accessory use to any residential use.' The code requires that the occupation be 'carried out only by persons residing on the premises'; that no product or service be sold or offered for sale from the residential dwelling; that the occupation 'shall not occupy more than one-quarter (1/4) of the area of one (1) floor of the principal structure thereof, nor be carried on in any accessory or secondary building'; and that 'no traffic shall be generated by the conduct of such home occupation by other than those persons residing on the premises.' These local standards operate alongside Florida Statute 559.955, which preempts cities from prohibiting home-based businesses outright. Section 559.955(2)(a) states a qualifying home-based business 'may operate in an area zoned for residential use,' and 559.955(3)(d) requires that 'the activities of the home-based business are secondary to the property's use as a residential dwelling' — language that mirrors the city's subordinate-use requirement. The state law also permits up to two on-site nonresident employees, which may be broader than the city's residents-only text; where the two conflict, the state preemption controls for businesses meeting the statutory criteria.